To parents and teachers of students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), it’s a familiar scenario: a child with aptitude, intelligence, and an eagerness to learn cannot seem to stay on top of what’s being taught in the classroom and struggles to execute and deliver their assignments. Incomplete homework, missed due dates, poor test results, and unread textbooks are only the tip of the iceberg for students coping with the condition. Lurking beneath the surface is an invisible constellation of challenges and symptoms that must be addressed through targeted strategies to help them perform like their peers.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that significantly affects academic performance, often contributing to underachievement. Students with ADHD face significant problems with noticing, understanding, and remembering information, which can create gaps in their learning. They can overcome these struggles, however, with supports that include ADHD and executive function coaching, math tutoring, and reading tutoring, which can help them develop effective learning strategies and remove barriers to success.
ADHD’s Impact on Information Processing
One of the core symptoms of ADHD is inattention, making it challenging for students to maintain focus on academic tasks. In a classroom setting, distractions abound, and people with ADHD may find it difficult to filter out irrelevant stimuli. It can be particularly frustrating when it comes to reading, going over a paragraph repeatedly to absorb what’s on the page or becoming visually distracted by what they are seeing. This constant struggle to pay attention impedes the encoding of new information, resulting in incomplete comprehension and gaps in learning.
For example, during a math class, a student with ADHD may struggle to concentrate on the teacher’s explanation of a new concept. This lack of attention can lead to a fragmented understanding of the material, making it difficult for the student to apply the new information independently. Math is a series of building blocks where more advanced learning relies on a solid grasp of previously introduced concepts. Math tutors can help pinpoint missing information and work with students to address and build on topics that were missed or poorly understood.
Working memory, responsible for holding and manipulating information temporarily, is also often impaired in people with ADHD. This limitation affects a student’s ability to follow multi-step instructions, solve complex problems, and remember important details. In subjects like math, where sequential processing is crucial, students with ADHD may face difficulties recalling the steps involved in solving a problem. This challenge can result in errors and frustration, hindering academic achievement.
In addition to problems with memory, ADHD is characterized by impulsive behaviour, which can lead to hasty decision-making and a lack of thoughtful consideration of academic tasks. In the realm of reading and comprehension, impulsive readers may gloss over important details, miss key points, or fail to grasp the deeper meaning of a text. These issues are particularly evident during assessments, where impulsive responses can result in lower grades, despite the student’s underlying knowledge of the material. Students with these problems can benefit from ADHD and executive function coaching to learn specific strategies that address those weaknesses.
Children with ADHD may also find it hard to sit still. The fidgeting and restlessness that accompany hyperactivity can make it a challenge to focus on what is being read or taught.
The Need for Repetition in Instruction
Given the hurdles posed by ADHD in information processing, students with the condition often require more repetition in instruction to solidify their understanding of academic material. Repetition serves as a crucial tool in reinforcing learning and compensating for the difficulties associated with attention and working memory.
Repetition helps create and strengthen neural pathways associated with learning. For students with ADHD, whose attention may fluctuate, repeated exposure to information enhances the chances of encoding it into long-term memory. This is especially important in subjects like math, where a strong foundation of basic concepts is essential for tackling more advanced topics.
Automaticity, the ability to perform tasks without conscious thought, is also a key element in academic success. By repeatedly practicing skills and concepts, students with ADHD can achieve a level of automaticity that facilitates smoother information processing and retrieval. For instance, regular and focused practice with a reading coach can enhance a student’s ability to decode words effortlessly, allowing them to shift their attention to comprehension and analysis.
ADHD Coaching and Executive Function Coaching: Bridging the Gap
In response to the unique needs of students with ADHD, interventions such as ADHD coaching and executive function coaching have emerged as valuable tools for improving academic performance. Coaching strategies aim to empower students with ADHD by teaching them skills to manage their symptoms, enhance executive functioning, and reduce cognitive load.
ADHD Coaching: Enhancing Focus and Task Management
ADHD coaching focuses on the specific challenges posed by inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Coaches work with students to develop personalized strategies for increasing focus, staying on task, and managing time effectively. For example, a math tutor incorporating ADHD coaching principles might help a student break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable steps. This approach aligns with the coaching strategy of chunking information, making it easier for students with ADHD to process and retain.
Executive Function Coaching: Improving Self-Regulation and Cognitive Skills
Executive functions are the cognitive processes responsible for managing thoughts, actions, and emotions. Students with weak executive function skills have difficulty planning, organizing, and regulating their behaviour. An executive function coach collaborates with students to develop strategies for self-regulation, goal-setting, and cognitive skill improvement. A reading coach, for example, might help a student create a personalized system for note-taking, ensuring that important details are captured and easily retrievable.
Reducing Cognitive Load: A Path to Academic Success
Cognitive load refers to the mental effort required for learning and processing information. Students with ADHD often experience an increased cognitive load because of their difficulties with attention and working memory. Coaching strategies focus on minimizing this load by teaching students how to break tasks into smaller, more manageable components. For instance, an ADHD coach might work with a student on developing a systematic approach to studying, breaking down study sessions into focused intervals with planned breaks. This approach not only improves retention but also reduces the cognitive strain associated with extended periods of concentrated effort.
Understanding the impact of ADHD on academic performance is crucial for developing effective interventions that address the unique needs of students with this condition. From attention difficulties to working memory challenges, ADHD creates specific hurdles in the learning process that require individualized approaches.
At Evoke Learning, we offer students ADHD coaching and executive function coaching to reduce academic struggles and help them succeed. By giving our clients the skills to enhance focus, manage tasks, self-regulate, and reduce cognitive load, our coaches reduce obstacles to pave the way for improved academic performance. Additionally, our math and reading tutors—experts in the nuances of ADHD—can create a holistic approach to address the challenges students face. A combination of support, targeted instruction, and personalized strategies can make a tremendous difference in academic outcomes for every child, irrespective of their neurodevelopmental differences. Give us a call to learn how we can help.
Recommended Reading
Smart but Scattered by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare
This book provides practical strategies for parents, teachers, and people with ADHD to address executive function deficits and improve organizational skills.
The ADHD Advantage by Dale Archer
Archer explores the positive aspects of ADHD and offers insights into leveraging its strengths, providing a fresh perspective on the condition.
Take Charge of ADHD by Russell A. Barkley
Barkley, a renowned expert in ADHD, offers evidence-based strategies for managing ADHD symptoms and improving daily functioning.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia are two neurodevelopmental disorders that frequently coexist, leading to unique challenges for people who experience both conditions simultaneously (a phenomenon known as “comorbidity”). Having both ADHD and dyslexia can make it hard for a student to have their specific learning and attention needs addressed. Research has identified strong genetic and cognitive overlap between the two conditions, with estimates that 25 to 40% of affected people share both disorders. Both ADHD and dyslexia run in families. The siblings of students with dyslexia have a 50% chance of sharing the disability. While difficulties with attention and focus may be seen in both conditions, the underlying cognitive processes involved may differ.
ADHD is characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning and activities. There are three main subtypes of ADHD:
Predominantly Inattentive: Individuals with this subtype struggle with sustaining attention, following through on tasks, and often appear forgetful or disorganized.
Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive: This subtype is marked by hyperactivity and impulsivity without significant inattention.
Combined: This is the most common subtype, featuring a combination of both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity.
The primary hallmark of dyslexia is a phonological processing deficit, meaning individuals with dyslexia struggle with recognizing, breaking down, and manipulating the sounds of spoken language, which can affect their ability to map sounds to letters and words. Dyslexia primarily affects language-related skills, and students with the disability have trouble reading and comprehending material and retrieving the correct words. People with dyslexia can also experience problems with spelling and memorization. While the symptoms of ADHD are often apparent from an early age, dyslexia is more subtle, and may not become visible until Grade 4 or 5, when students need to begin applying their reading skills.
According to the International Dyslexia Association, people with ADHD and dyslexia share similar characteristics. For example, both may have difficulty paying attention. Dyslexic students may tire easily when trying to read because of the demands on their concentration, while students with ADHD have trouble commanding their attention when the reading task at hand is not stimulating. The dyslexic child may have challenges with accuracy because they are misreading words, while the child with ADHD may be skipping over text, ignoring punctuation, and moving on to the next sentence without finishing the first, also resulting in poor comprehension. Both types of students may avoid reading all together because they find it unenjoyable. Students with either condition can also have trouble with handwriting,
organization, and proofreading. Despite being intelligent and motivated learners, students with dyslexia and ADHD are likely working harder than their peers to achieve mediocre results in school.
Students with ADHD and dyslexia also frequently share a weakness in rapid automatized naming (RAN), a cognitive skill that relates to the ability to name a series of familiar items quickly and accurately, such as colors, objects, numbers, or letters. RAN is often used as a measure of cognitive and language processing speed, particularly in the context of reading and language development. RAN tasks require both attention and working memory to maintain and manipulate information temporarily—skills that are weak for students with ADHD and dyslexia.
Relationships Between Dyslexia, ADHD, and Executive Functions
Both dyslexia and ADHD can be associated with executive function deficits, which are a set of cognitive processes that encompass various higher-level mental functions, including:
Inhibition: The ability to control impulses and override automatic responses
Working Memory: The capacity to hold and manipulate information in one’s mind
Cognitive Flexibility: The ability to adapt to changing circumstances and switch between tasks or mental sets
Planning and Organization: The capacity to set goals, create plans, and organize steps to achieve those goals
Problem Solving: The ability to identify, analyze, and solve complex problems
Executive functions play a crucial role in regulating behavior, making decisions, and managing daily tasks efficiently. In individuals with ADHD, these deficits are often more pronounced, affecting their ability to plan, organize, and sustain attention on tasks. In dyslexia, executive function deficits may relate more to difficulties in working memory and processing speed during reading-related tasks. It’s also not uncommon for people with dyslexia or ADHD to have other comorbid conditions, such as anxiety or depression, which can further complicate the clinical picture and require tailored interventions.
Effects on Student Learning and Academic Progress
Students who have both ADHD and dyslexia often struggle in school.
Working Memory Impairments: Both ADHD and dyslexia can affect working memory, making it challenging for people to follow multi-step instructions or retain information during tasks.
Reading Difficulties: Dyslexia primarily affects reading and spelling skills. Students with dyslexia may struggle with phonemic awareness, decoding words, and reading fluency. This can hinder their ability to comprehend texts and perform well in subjects that require extensive reading.
Inattention in the Classroom: ADHD-related inattention can lead to difficulties in following classroom instructions, taking notes, and completing assignments. Students with ADHD may also find it challenging to stay organized and manage their time effectively.
Impulsivity and Task Completion: Impulsivity can hinder students with ADHD in completing assignments and tests accurately. They may rush through tasks, make careless errors, and have difficulty staying focused on more extended tasks.
Low Self-Esteem: Struggling with reading and classroom tasks can lead to poor self-esteem and lack of self-confidence in both individuals with dyslexia and those with ADHD. These negative emotions can further affect their motivation and academic engagement.
Supporting Students with ADHD and Dyslexia
Early identification and intervention are crucial for addressing both conditions. Schools and parents should work together to identify signs of ADHD and dyslexia and provide appropriate support, including specialized instruction and accommodations.
Individualized Education Plans (IEPs): Students with both ADHD and dyslexia often benefit from IEPs that cater to their unique needs. These plans can include extended time for assignments and tests, preferential seating, and access to assistive technology.
Behavioral Interventions: Interventions such as positive reinforcement, time management strategies, and mindfulness exercises can help students with ADHD manage impulsivity and improve focus.
A Collaborative Team: A collective approach involving educators, parents, and specialists is essential. Regular communication ensures that strategies are consistent at school and home.
Pharmacological Intervention: In some cases, medication may be prescribed to manage the symptoms of ADHD. It’s crucial for parents and health care professionals to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of medication and monitor its effects closely.
The connection between ADHD and dyslexia is complex and often perplexing; however, with early identification, appropriate interventions, and a supportive community of educators, parents, and specialists, individuals with these dual diagnoses can thrive academically and in their personal lives.
At Evoke Learning, we offer reading remediation programs for at-risk students that address reading deficits and facilitate reading acquisition in both French and English. All our services are individualized and offered one-to-one. Our practitioners have experience working with exceptional learners and use interactive tools and resources to engage them. Most of our clients struggle with self-regulation and our practitioners are experts in meeting their needs. Contact us to learn more about how our tutors and coaches can help your student unlock their full potential.
Books to Explore
Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level by Sally Shaywitz, MD
This book provides an in-depth understanding of dyslexia and offers practical strategies for parents, teachers, and individuals with dyslexia.
Smart but Scattered: The Revolutionary Executive Skills Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare
This book offers valuable insights into executive functioning difficulties and provides strategies to support students with ADHD and related challenges.
The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain by Brock L. Eide and Fernette F. Eide
Exploring the strengths associated with dyslexia, this book provides a positive perspective and strategies for capitalizing on these strengths.
Taking Charge of ADHD: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents by Russell A. Barkley
This comprehensive guide offers parents and educators a deep understanding of ADHD and practical advice for managing its effects on children’s lives.